When British teenager Courtney Hadwin auditioned on America’s Got Talent, no one could have predicted what would happen next. At just 13 years old, Courtney appeared extremely shy as she stepped onto the stage. She even admitted to the judges that she was very nervous.
Trying to comfort her, Mel B said, “Don’t be nervous. I know it’s a big stage and there are lots of people here, but you’re here for a reason. Go for it. Good luck.”
Courtney then launched into Otis Redding’s ‘Hard to Handle,’ and left the judges and audience speechless. Jaws dropped everywhere as they watched her incredible performance.
By the time the song ended, she had received a standing ovation. Her dad, watching backstage with host Tyra Banks, was delighted. Simon Cowell, known for being tough, exclaimed, “Bloody hell, Courtney. You were this shy little thing when you came out, but when you sing, you’re like a lion. Genuinely incredible.”
Fellow judge Howie Mandel was so impressed that he hit the golden buzzer, sending her straight through to the live shows.
Courtney, who had previously been a finalist on The Voice Kids UK, gained a lot of new fans after this performance, with Twitter exploding with praise.
